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Raajaa Shalya is a Mahaabhaarat character.

Raajaa Shalya was the king of Praagjyotish. He was the brother of Maadree - Nakul and Sahadev's mother. Thus he was Paandav's Maamaa (maternal uncle). When Paandu was coming back from his victory tour, he saw Shalya coming towards him. When Shalya found him as Paandu, he was very happy to see him and immediately he gave his sister Maadree to him. Maadree had two sons from Ashwinee Kumaar - Sahadev and Nakul.

After this incident we find Shalya at the time of MBH war. Shalya was cheated by Duryodhan and was forced to join his side in war. As he heard that Paandav's Agyaatvaas was over, he got very happy and started towards Upaplavya Nagar to see Yudhishthir. Duryodhan heard this and a scheme came to his mind. He made Shalya's journey as comfortable as he could. He did not allow him to camp his own anywhere on the way. Duryodhan made all the arrangements of his staying. Shalya was very pleased with the arrangement. He thought that it was done by Yudhishthir, because he never saw his host. So once he told the servants that he was very happy with the arrangement and he wanted to see his host. He wanted to give reward to him for this. The servants went to Duryodhan and told this to him.

Duryodhan came and greeted Shalya. Shalya was surprised to see him instead of Yudhishthir, but he had already promised to give him reward, so he said to Duryodhan - "I was going to see Yudhishthir on his invitation, but you have won my heart, so ask for its reward." Duryodhan said - "Please be the Commander-in-Chief of my army in war." Shalya said - "I am sorry, I cannot accept this position until Bheeshm is alive." Immediately Karn said - "Then please accept to be my Saarathee." Shalya agreed for it. Shalya then went to Upaplavya, asked Paandav for their forgiveness and blessed them. Yudhishthir was very sorry to know all this, then he said - "I am sorry that we will have to fight with our Maamaa, but at least do me a favor. When you will be the Saarathee of Karn, please take care of my Arjun as Karn has vowed to kill him." Shalya promised for that.

Nakul and Sahadev were very sorry to learn about all this, but could not do anything. Shalya killed Uttar, Raaja Viraat's younger son on the 1st day of the war and he himself was killed by Yudhishthir on the 18th day of war.

Shalya was a great mace warrior - read  in Shalya Parv.

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